Ever since the internet and networking were introduced, the fear of 'being hacked' has been at the forefront of our society. Luckily there are steps that you can take to protect yourself from an unauthorized entry. These steps are much easier than you think, and we will go over a few basic ones that you can take today.

The first thing you can do is make sure you are behind a router when you are using the internet. Many people make the mistake of plugging directly into their cable or DSL modem. It would be helpful to purchase a standard four port router even if you are the only internet user in the home. This will make it much more difficult for hackers to find their way into their computer as the router will provide a barrier between you and the outside world.

In addition to that you could also try a software firewall. There are a number of different choices, some of which are actually free. For instance, there is a free version of Zone Alarm which will block any connections that you did not approve. It can be annoying sometimes, especially when it questions every action you take, but it will keep you protected. You can also upgrade to the professional version of Zone Alarm to gain access to better features and have more control over your firewall.

There are certain pieces of spyware software that will watch your registry. Whenever a change is made to your computer, the registry must be modified, and if you are notified when a change is being made, you can allow the change or even deny it until you know more about the event that is taking place.

The so called hackers may also attempt to gain your information through what is known as 'phishing'. This is a term used for those who pretend to be perfectly legitimate individuals, perhaps conducting a spyware scan or even posing as an official from your bank and asking for your information. You might even be shown a list of files in your computer, and a message stating that your system is not secure. Generally the files you are being show are either not your own, or they are in a folder that can be easily accessed from the outside. Think twice before you give anyone any information.

These are a few ways that you can keep your computer protected. There are many people who make the mistake of thinking they are untouchable, but the truth is that no one is untouchable. You can be compromised, and once you accept that, you can begin to protect yourself. That being said, listen, learn, and most importantly: watch out.

I have said this on other forums & was shouted down as being over suspicious. I warned that publishing any personal information was not a good idea, & meeting anyone in person should be done with the utmost caution. One site gave this warning as a reason for banning me (amongst others!)

Shame, but I felt I had to stop posting on a site I liked because one person had put together bits of info that I let slip in order to find out more info than I wanted to publicise. Why should anyone care? if they do I tend to think they are up to no good.

On a message board one never really knows who is posting or who is reading .I have become friendly with several regulars on this site.They know my real name .I'm also e-mailing with a few people .I usually get a vibe and know who I can trust .I've become very good friends with one guy and we plan on getting together with our wives later this year .

I find people do install a royter on their home network . They just leave in the factory default settings. This just allows hackers to access your system and broadcast spam thru your system. If you get a router ask the computer stoe help you set up the
router in your home or pre setup in there shop.

It is amazing, but I use my real name here and had other personal information online for years - and I have never had a problem. As the head of this company it was not hard for people to figure out who I am.

Now, if I did not have to do that I would not do it - but it amazes me how much it has NOT been a problem for me over the years. In the last 10 years I have probably only gotten three unwelcome phone calls, and only a one of them obscene or anything like that.

I think it really depends on where you post and what kind of people go there.

I do get email sometimes from people saying they have "stalkers" from other web sites following them into our site, but it is only once/twice year.

I am far more wary of sites like Facebook that ask you for tons of information.

When we first opened CruiseMates we asked people all kinds of personal information (to give us voluntarily to build a better site) and many people trusted us with it. I am happy to say 10 years later it has never been abused.

The worst problems I have had is with people who are in the identity protection business. It is almost like people saying McAffee starts viruses just so you will buy them. The only people I have ever had hassle us about "spam" or other issues (say our unsubscribe failed for a week, which can happen) were in the marketing business themselves.

There was a time back in about 2003 when spam was on the cover of Time and CA passed a new law saying you could sue spammers. I sent out an email blast and some guy from California called my home phone and was unbelievably obscene and rude. He was having a "kick the dog" kind of day. he claimed he never subscribed - which I have no way of knowing. He said "take me off your list or my lawyer will ruin your life before you can say s**t" you *** ****. It was shocking, really. This was my home phone.

But my point is that while I do understand the dangers of identity theft, I have to say that knock on wood, this site has always been very safe as far as I can tell.

I did fall for a phishing email last year - very dumb. I called and cancelled my credit card immediately.

Well I am one of those who has stalkers, I also have people who are determined to find out as much personal information as they can, I find this most unpleasant & very strange, I don't know why they do it or what they hope to gain. I feel it says more about them than it does me.

It is amazing, but I use my real name here and had other personal information online for years - and I have never had a problem. As the head of this company it was not hard for people to figure out who I am.

Now, if I did not have to do that I would not do it - but it amazes me how much it has NOT been a problem for me over the years. In the last 10 years I have probably only gotten three unwelcome phone calls, and only a one of them obscene or anything like that.

I think it really depends on where you post and what kind of people go there.

I do get email sometimes from people saying they have "stalkers" from other web sites following them into our site, but it is only once/twice year.

I am far more wary of sites like Facebook that ask you for tons of information.

When we first opened CruiseMates we asked people all kinds of personal information (to give us voluntarily to build a better site) and many people trusted us with it. I am happy to say 10 years later it has never been abused.

The worst problems I have had is with people who are in the identity protection business. It is almost like people saying McAffee starts viruses just so you will buy them. The only people I have ever had hassle us about "spam" or other issues (say our unsubscribe failed for a week, which can happen) were in the marketing business themselves.

There was a time back in about 2003 when spam was on the cover of Time and CA passed a new law saying you could sue spammers. I sent out an email blast and some guy from California called my home phone and was unbelievably obscene and rude. He was having a "kick the dog" kind of day. he claimed he never subscribed - which I have no way of knowing. He said "take me off your list or my lawyer will ruin your life before you can say s**t" you *** ****. It was shocking, really. This was my home phone.

But my point is that while I do understand the dangers of identity theft, I have to say that knock on wood, this site has always been very safe as far as I can tell.

I did fall for a phishing email last year - very dumb. I called and cancelled

my credit card immediately.

I believe you are very fortunate that you have not had a problem . My thinking is that more than 50% of the people on this site do not use their real name or if they do they do not have a photo of themselves .

Don't get me wrong, I do get insulting email, but if you think about it there are MANY people in the public eye like myself - from Keith Olbermann to Glenn Beck and they all manage to use their real names and live in the public.

Sarah Palin's email hackers went to jail, as I recall. Cybercrime is taken pretty seriously.

I have people (certain cruise lawyers) who do not like me, and they say vastly insulting things to me and about me in public. But I take some pride in taking a stand and saying what I think, even if it seems outrageous to some people. When you do what I do you have to take the flack that comes with it.

Did anyone notice the guy in the Epic Live thread trying to rile me up. I was upset for about a minutem and then I just laughed.

"stalkers" in the sense of people on the Internet who follow you around and post things are just a byproduct of the information age. It is inevitable that those things will happen.

The only thing I am sorry about is that people have lost civility. We used to think it was all right to disagree as long as you did it politely (in our society, I mean). But in the last few years a disagreement means its open season for personal insults and trash talk. I really think that is a shame.

Paul,
I totally agree with you. Its quite all right to openly disagree with someone, but there is no need to throw out insults while doing it...I think a lot of people forget that the best way to treat others, is how you want to be treated in return....Works for me.

In terms of internet security and privacy - well thats almost non-existant these days - almost anyone can find out anything about someone else and there are many many websites just dedicated to these "stalking like" services for a fee. I have a few friends who work in IT and they all tell me the same - be wary - of free WiFi services in coffee shops ( Starbucks particulary due to its popularity) and many restaurants, airport lounges, etc. They tell me hackers find it very easy to hack on to those networks and wirelessly get into your computer without you noticing a thing. Best is to avoid them all together or install internet security software such as an anti-virus software that also covers wireless networks.
Civility, politeness and respect for others is almost a lost art in modern times -especially on line - people are in this "me me me" "whats in it for me" and "entitled" mine frame. Its actually a sad statement of our society.